The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Michigan MAC Trophy (EMU-CMU)

Central Michigan34-15-2Eastern Michigan
Regional Program IV#111 of 138–Regional Program V#126 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

Central Michigan leads the all-time series 34-15-2. They've met 51 times since 1975. Central Michigan once took 7 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Central Michigan
Transfer portal
-21
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -33
Eastern Michigan
Transfer portal
-15
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -38

Stature & the series, 1975–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeCentral MichiganEastern Michiganevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Central Michigan won, gray: Eastern Michigan won)198020002020

The identity war

Central Michigan was the more pass-heavy program — then Eastern Michigan took it over.

Central Michigan threw it more in 12 of 15 seasons, 2004–2018. Since 2019, Eastern Michigan has led 7 of 8. Real exceptions: 2004, 2005, 2008, 2022.

more passmore runCentral MichiganEastern Michigan2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262019Eastern Michigan 5.2 ptsCentral Michigan won 42-162004Eastern Michigan 8.3 ptsEastern Michigan won 61-582008Eastern Michigan 4.6 ptsEastern Michigan won 56-52
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Central Michigan by 49 in 1981. The biggest crowd, 28,605, was in 2025.

The coaching duels

Herb Deromedi vs Jim Harkema6-1-2
Jim McElwain vs Chris Creighton4-2
Herb Deromedi vs Mike Stock5-0
Dick Flynn vs Rick Rasnick3-2
Mike DeBord vs Jeff Woodruff3-1
John Bonamego vs Chris Creighton2-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
23-19
Central Michigan leads
1st-rounders
2-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Central MichiganEastern Michigan
1970s2-7
1980s3-1
1990s1-2
2000s5-4
2010s8-3
2020s4-2

Best picks, either side

2013Eric Fisher Offensive Tackle · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1999L.J. Shelton Offensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 21#21 overall
1978Ron Johnson Defensive Back · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 1, pick 22#22 overall
2007Joe Staley Offensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 28#28 overall
2019Sean Bunting Cornerback · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 2, pick 7#39 overall
1985Jim Bowman Defensive Back · New England PatriotsRd 2, pick 24#52 overall
1975Mike Franckowiak Quarterback · Denver BroncosRd 3, pick 2#54 overall
2008Jason Jones Defensive End · Tennessee TitansRd 2, pick 23#54 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Central Michigan1.08×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Central Michigan24-13
2024Eastern Michigan38-34
2023Central Michigan26-23
2022Eastern Michigan38-19
2021Central Michigan31-10
2020Central Michigan31-23
2019Central Michigan42-16Eastern Michigan — Eastern Michigan routed by 26
2018Eastern Michigan17-7
2017Central Michigan42-30Eastern Michigan — Eastern Michigan routed by 12
2016Eastern Michigan26-21
2015Central Michigan35-28
2014Central Michigan38-7
2013Central Michigan42-10
2012Central Michigan34-31Eastern Michigan — decided by 3

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Central Michigan’s chance to win through that meeting. Central Michigan is 2-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Central Michigan 24-13Central Michigan won 24-13 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 76%, low 74%, high better than 99%.
2024Eastern Michigan 38-34Central Michigan lost 34-38 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 41%, low 15%, high 99%.
2023Central Michigan 26-23Central Michigan won 26-23 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 78%, low 25%, high 89%.
2022Eastern Michigan 38-19Central Michigan lost 19-38 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 44%, low 11%, high 97%.
2021Central Michigan 31-10Central Michigan won 31-10 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 74%, low 63%, high better than 99%.
2020Central Michigan 31-23Central Michigan won 31-23 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 67%, low 9%, high 97%.
2019Central Michigan 42-16Central Michigan won 42-16 vs Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 47%, low 42%, high better than 99%.
2018Eastern Michigan 17-7Central Michigan lost 7-17 at Eastern Michigan. Chance to win started at 17%, low 1%, high 57%.

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.